Skin marking



Jul 8, 1924. r 1,500,987

0. H. FOSS SKIN MARKING Filed June 20. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Zr' .Z.

7 m 9 l0 I4 22 I Z 4 WITNESSES st 22 l/Vl/E/VTOR OLAF'HFOSS A TTORNEYS July 8 1924.

0 H. FOSS SKIN MARKING Filed Jun 20,

1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR OLAFH Foss WITNESSES A/JiW 3 0d,

4 NORA/E78 Patented July 8, 1924.

OLAF HANSEN FOSS, OF MADDOCK, NORTH DAKOTA.

SKIN MARKING.

Application filed June 20, 1923. Serial No. 646,647.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, 0mm H. Foss, a citi- 'zen of the United States, and a resident of Maddock, in the county of Benson and State of North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Skin Marking, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This 'inventionrelates to improvements in skin markers, marking appliances and marking machines.

An object of the invention is to provide a skin-marking device, preferably adapted totake readily mountable and demountable marking members, and comprising essentially'a jaw structure between the relatively movable jaws of which a skin is adapted to be inserted, and wherein one of said jaws at least may carry a removable marking member which may be economically and conveniently heated for the marking operation.

Another object is to provide a device as just characterized, in which a heating fluid is applied to the marking member and the application of such fluid thereto is controlled automatically by a relative movement of the jaw members.

Another object is to provide a skin marking device comprising a jaw structure, wherein each jaw thereof may carry a'marking member, and each such member may have a marking face directed toward the similar face of the other member, and with the parts so arranged and related that the marking surfaces of both members may be applied to opposite sides of a particular skin, to mark both sides of the skin or otherwise to give a more permanent and ineffaceable marking than heretofore.

Since preferably any marking device according to the present invention is equipped with means for applying a heating fluid to each marking member employed, another object of the invention is to mount the jaws of the jaw structure in such a manner that the means for supplying the heating fluid to both jaws, if desired. in order to heat a marking member carried by each jaw, con stitutes also a simple, reliable and conven iently manipulable means or instrumentality for giving the jawsthe required relative movement to perform a marking operation.

A further object of the. invention, in. a marking device constructed pursuant thereto wherein a marking member carried by a jaw is subjected. to a heating fluid admitted.

to a cavity in the jaw in rear of such mem-' her, is to provide, in connection with the conduit supplying such cavity, a valve or equivalent automatically opened and closed by movements of one jaw relative to the. other.

Still a further object is to provide a marking device of any ofthe types above characterized, wherein a marking member and the jaw for carrying thesame are so respectively constructed and are equipped with such co-acting parts as to permit ready substitution of one marking member for another in a particular jaw. And in this connection, an important ,object of the invention is to provide, in a jaw having means for confining a heating fluid against its carried marking member, a provision whereby the application of such heating fluid to the marking member is automatically controlled to shut off the supply of fluid to said confining means when the jaw is moved to a position to permit substitution of a new marking member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a skinv marking machine in which are employed a plurality of skin marking devices each including a mount for a marking member and means for applying a heating fluid to such member or mount or both in each device, from a common source. In this connection, the means last mentioned is preferably a tanker other reservoir forthe heating fluid, preferably steam, and according to the invention there is provided a distributor conduit for such fluid to serve all the marking devices. which devices are arranged in spaced relation along the length of the conduit.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a skinmarking machine of the kind characterized in the preceding paragraph, a continuous distributor conduit circumferentially .of which the individual marking devices may be arranged, so as preferably to be carried by such conduit, to facilitate mounting such tank or the like centrallyof all the devices, thereby in turn facilitating the mounting of the conduit by means of substantiallyradial struts or spoke-like intermediate conduits functioning also, as supporting means for the distributor conduit.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a marking machine as above, and one wherein such struts or the like terminate in a socketing structure between the dis tributor conduit and the tank, thereby to rotatably mount the distributor conduit, and yet always have the same supplied with steam or the like through supply conduits including said socketing structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rotatable type of multi-device machine as above indicated, and one wherein an arcuatetable is fixed concentric with the axis of rotation of the circular distributor conduit or other similar turn-table mechanism, thereby to provide a convenient working platform for handling the skins; and, if such table be non-continuous, providing the additional advantage of giving a gap or clear space to facilitate engaging a portion of a skin with a selected marking device when such device is temporarily moved to such gap or space.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when taken in connection-with the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification; with the understanding, however, that such drawing illustrates, merely by way of example, one possible embodiment of the invention, and that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing in the drawing, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In said drawings: I

i Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical section through a marking machine constructed pursuant to the invention, being a section on line 1--1 of Fig. 2, and with certain parts of Fig. 1 partially broken away and partially in section;

Fig. 2' is a top plan view of themachine of Fig. 1;

:Fig. 3 is a very much enlarged, generally sectional view, taken in a vertical plane through one of the marking devices; and

Fig. 4 is a very much enlarged view of certain of the partsof Fig. 1, being a vertical axial section taken through thesocketing structure and main reservolr.

Similar reference characters refer to similar partsthroughout the several views of the drawing. I

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, each of the referencecharacters 1 indicates a fixed arcuate table element or platform, each supported on a leg structure 2, and on two legs 2-. Leg structures'2 are braced to the floor by stay pieces 3 extended from thebase portion of a steamboiler, or reservoir or tank 4:. This tank is provided with awater gauge 5 and a steam gauge 6. I

The reference character? indicates a. dis tributor conduit preferably made from metal tubing and arranged as a closed circle, 2 This distributor conduit is supported on four upper end to take a flange ring 13, and overlying such ring 13 is a removable cap 14; screwed on the upper end of a rotor tube 15; the purpose of such ring 13 being to hold the rotor tube from being accidentally elevated off the fixed tube 11. Rotor tube 15 has bearing against fixed tube 11 at the interior collars 16 of the rotor tube. These collars are above and below an annular cavity in the rotor tube by way of which steam issuing from orifices 12 may enter the interiors of hollow arms 9. Between the lower collars 16 and sleeve member 17 fixed on the lower end of rotor tube 15 but loose on the lower portion of fixed tube 11 is a packing gland 17*; this part last mentioned thus constituting a steamtight packing box. At 18 is, a collar on fxed tube 11 on which sleeve member 17 rotatably rests.

At 19 is indicated a screw-top, which when removed furnishes a convenient means to connect the tank to any steam source. Faucet 20 is provided for drawing ofi' surplus water. Feed water may be poured into the tank through the socketing structure, when the screw-top 14 is removed as when an outside steam source is not available; and then steam may be generated by applying a flame from a suitable source to the bottom wall of the tank proper, such wall being the one shown at P in Fig.1. At 21 is indicated a suitable flame-supplying appliance, as a gas burner.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, a circular shelf 22 is suspended by hangers 22" from understructures 1 of tables or plate forms 1. This shelf has been found to be very convenient for various purposes: and the understructures 1 are provided for slidably accommodating radially withdrawable drawers indicated and marked 1 in Fig. 2 and conveniently used for storing pluralities of selectively utilizable marking members for the different marking devices. Such marking devices are denoted by the reference character24: in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3, it may be stated at this point that each marking device is a jaw structure including a pair of relatively movable clamps or jaws marked 24*? and 2a in said Fig. 3. As the invention is preferably carried out, each of these jaws carries an oppositely facin marking member M. As the resultof provisions be;

ill

low described in detail, these members M are intended to be readily removable and replaceable by members bearing other marking faces, and the surplus members are stored in the drawers 1 mentioned just above. In the present case 18 marking devices 24: are recommended, as indicated in Fig. 2. Thus there will be 48 pairs of marking members M, desirably numbered from 1 to 18 on their marking faces. There are two equal numbers and also room for a letter between them as -1A1, 2A.2, 3,A3, I etc. One set of these marking members consists of 96 pieces, and these pieces may obviously be combined so as to produce 48 different markings, since both sides of the member are marked. Two sets will produce 4 X 48 marks, and three 7 X48 etc.

It will be noted from Fig. 2 that the arcuate tables or platforms 1 establish between their meeting ends two spaces or gaps marked N, so that when a skin is to be marked by any selected marking device 24 the turn-table structure carrying all the marking devices may be rotated about the center socketing structure 10 to dispose the marking device with the desired indicia in a gap N.

The preferred construction of each marking device will be best understood from an examination of Fig. 3, with an occasional reference to Figs. 1 and 2. The jaw 24 it will first be noted, is carried directly as an upstanding projection on circular distributor conduit 7 while jaw 24t is supported by a goose-neck conduit 23, which is a bent metal tube having a resilient flexibility such that when a pressure is previously applied to the two limbs of the tube to press them toward eachother, and then such pressure is released, such limbs spring apart to the relative positions shown in Fig. 3. Referring now to the details of construction of the jaws or clamps 24 and 2 1*, each includes a pipe member d or d, a plug threaded therein and carrying a valve seat, a valve member G held normally to its seat by an expansile spring S and retainers "for the outer ends of said springs including in the case of the upper jaw a removable screw cap f and in the case of the lower aw a removable screw block 9 having a central orifice 0 communicating with the interior of distributor conduit 7. In each jaw a is a relief steam port which also serves as a means for permitting a suitable tool to be i serted for removing a marking member lid or otherwise handling the latter. In rear of the marking member in each jaw is an offset stem B adapted when its marking member is pressed inward in the carrying jaw, automatically to space the valve memher in that jaw away from its valve seat. It will be seen that both markingmembers M are thus movable in the flared outer ends of their jaws, and that one of the-jaws, the upper one, is provided with small lugs u or the like, whereby when the jaws are closed together against an interposed skin, the lugs u will press through the skin against the lower marking member to shift its stem Z2 suiiiciently to open its valve C, whereupon further squeezing together of the jaws will cause stem Z) of the upper marking member to co-act similarly with its valve 0. In order to provide convenient and simple means for flexing the tube 23 to cause the operations last described, a U- strap 25 at its bottom takes under the lower limb of the tube and at its other end mounts, on a pivot 26 and above the upper limb of tube 23, a cam 27 formed integral with a handle H.

The reference numeral 28 in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 represents a circular shield to keep the skins away from the steam heated distributor conduit 7. V

It'is desirable to use a hoop-shaped brace 29 arranged as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and suitably secured to the inner curved terminus of each of tubes 23 to assist in mounting the same and maintaining them prop erly spaced. g

The. steam pressure recommended is a moderate one, say about lbs.

Before closing this specification, it is well to state that it is desirable first to prepare on each skin to be marked, at a suitable place, a rectangular spot about 19 by a". This spot is prepared by removing the hair, and, also in case the skin is very thick, by removing a part thereof on the hair side. A special means for performing the forego ing preparatory stepsdesirable for making half-circular cuts in the skin, consists of a combined shifting apparatus and punch. The punch is for the purpose of making half-circular cuts in the skin, preferably so thattwo pieces of raw rubber may be placed one on either side of the skin in such cuts, or rather depressions: so that when the skin so equipped is subjected to the heated marking members M, with such members applied to the rubber pieces, the latter will vulcanize together and to the skin and will carry the impressions of the marking plates on both sides of the skin in the rubber pieces. In this connection rubber need not necessarily be employed, but it has been found very satisfactory. The mechanisms and processes mentioned in this paragraph form no part of the present invention, however, but are described more in detail and claimed in my Patent No. 1,363,105, grant ed December 21, 1920.

I claim:

1. A skin marking device, comprising a jaw structure between which a skin is adapted to be inserted, a marking member carried by one of the jaws of the structure, which jaw is movable relative to the other, and means for applying a heating fluid to said marking member, such means applying said fluid automatically during relative movement of the jaws.

2. A skin marking device, comprising a jaw structure between which a skin is adapted to be inserted, a marking member carried by one of the jaws of the structure, which jaw is movable relative to the other, and means for'applying a heating fluid to said marking member, such means applying said fluid automatically during relative movement of the jaws and including a hollow chamber in the first-mentioned jaw.-

3. The skin marking device defined in claim 1, wherein said means also includes a conduit leadingto said chamber, and a valve in said conduit automatically opened and closed by movements of one jaw relative to theother.

l. A skin marking device, comprising a jaw structure between which a skin is adapted to be inserted, a marking member carried by one of the jaws of the structure, which jaw is movable relative to the other, and means for applying a heating fluid to said marking member, said'marking meinoer being detachably carried by its aw to permit substitution of different members, and means controlling the application of such heating fluid to the marking member whereby such fluid may be shut oif for the substitution of a new marking member.

5. The skin marking device defined in claim 4, wherein the means for applying such fluid includes a cavity in the firstmentioned jaw in rear of the marking member, and said'controlling means automatically operates to shut off the supply of fluid to said cavity when the first-mentioned jaw is in position to permit the substitution of a new marking member.

6. A skin marking device, comprising a jaw structure between which a skin is adapted to be inserted, such structure including a plurality of jaws one of which is movable relative to the other, and a marking member carried by each jaw, said marking members having oppositely facing marking surfaces each provided with parts relatively raised and projected, said jaw members being hollow, and means for feeding from a common source a heating fluid to the interiors of both jaws in rear of the marking members, such means including a goose-neck pipe of some flexibility.

'7. In a skin marking machine, the combination of a plurality of skin marking devices each including a marking member and a mount therefor, and means for applying a heat ng fluid to such member in each device, said means including a main reservoir for such fluid, a distributor conduit for such fluid on which conduit said devices are arranged in spaced relation, and conduits be tween the distributor conduit and the mounts for the marking members of the different devices.

8. The skin marking machine defined in claim 7, wherein said distributor conduit is circular, and there are provided between the same and said reservoir a plurality of feeding conduits also acting as spoke-like supporting means for the distributor conduit.

9. The skin marking machine defined in claim 7, wherein said distributor conduit is circular, and there are provided a socketing structure pivotally mounting the distributor conduit on an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of curvature of said conduit, and means for always discharging heating fluid from the reservoir to the distributor conduit through said socketing structure.

10. The skin marking machine defined in claim 7, wherein. said distributor conduit is circular, and there are provided a socketing structure pivotally mounting the distributor conduit on an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of curvature of said conduit, and means for always discharging heating fluid from the reservoir to the distributor conduit through said socketing structure, there being further provided an arcuate fixed table concentric with said axis lying outside the bounds of said distributor conduit. i

OLAF HANSEN FOSS. 

